10775926

Method of Performing Touch Sensing and Fingerprint Sensing Simultaneously and Electronic Device and System Using the Same

PublishedSeptember 15, 2020
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Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
22 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. An electronic device capable of performing a touch sensing operation and a fingerprint sensing operation simultaneously, the electronic device comprising: a touch sensing control circuit; and a fingerprint sensing control circuit; wherein the touch sensing control circuit senses a first touch on a sensing region of a panel, and the touch sensing control circuit provides a first location information corresponding to the first touch; wherein a fingerprint region is determined in the sensing region according to the first location information, and the fingerprint region encompasses a location of the first touch; wherein the fingerprint sensing control circuit performs the fingerprint sensing operation on the fingerprint region during a first sensing time, and the electronic device performs the touch sensing operation on the sensing region except the fingerprint region during the first sensing time.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to electronic devices and addresses the challenge of integrating multiple sensing operations efficiently. Specifically, it describes an electronic device designed to perform both touch sensing and fingerprint sensing simultaneously. The device includes a touch sensing control circuit and a fingerprint sensing control circuit. The touch sensing control circuit detects a touch on a designated sensing region of a panel and generates location information for that touch. This location information is then used to dynamically determine a fingerprint region within the broader sensing region, ensuring the fingerprint region includes the location of the detected touch. During a specific first sensing time, the fingerprint sensing control circuit is activated to perform the fingerprint sensing operation within this determined fingerprint region. Concurrently, during this same first sensing time, the touch sensing control circuit continues to perform the touch sensing operation on the parts of the sensing region that are outside of the dynamically determined fingerprint region. This allows for simultaneous operation, optimizing user experience and device functionality.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint region is determined after the first touch is determined to be a fingerprint.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays that incorporate fingerprint recognition. The problem addressed is improving the efficiency and accuracy of fingerprint authentication by dynamically determining the optimal region for fingerprint scanning after a touch input is identified as a potential fingerprint. The device includes a touch-sensitive display configured to detect touch inputs and a processor that analyzes these inputs. When a touch is detected, the processor determines whether the touch corresponds to a fingerprint. If confirmed, the processor then identifies a specific region of the touch-sensitive display as the fingerprint region, which is used for subsequent fingerprint scanning and authentication. This dynamic determination allows the device to adapt to varying touch positions and sizes, enhancing the reliability of fingerprint recognition. The fingerprint region is defined based on the characteristics of the detected fingerprint, such as its size and location, ensuring precise and efficient authentication. The invention improves user experience by reducing false rejections and minimizing the need for multiple authentication attempts.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first touch is determined to be the fingerprint when a touch time of the first touch is longer than a threshold time.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays that distinguish between different types of touch inputs, specifically differentiating between a fingerprint touch and other touch inputs. The problem addressed is the need for electronic devices to accurately identify fingerprint touches for security or user interface purposes, particularly when distinguishing them from brief or accidental touches. The electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display configured to detect touch inputs and a processor that processes these inputs. The device determines whether a first touch is a fingerprint touch based on the duration of the touch. If the touch time of the first touch exceeds a predefined threshold time, the device classifies it as a fingerprint touch. This threshold time is set to ensure that only intentional, sustained touches are recognized as fingerprint inputs, filtering out brief or accidental touches. The device may also include additional features, such as a fingerprint sensor integrated with the touch-sensitive display or a separate fingerprint sensor. The processor may further analyze the touch pattern, pressure, or other characteristics to enhance accuracy in distinguishing fingerprint touches from other inputs. The invention improves user experience by reducing false positives in fingerprint recognition and ensuring secure and reliable authentication or input detection.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint region comprises a main region including a touch area of the first touch.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with fingerprint sensing capabilities, particularly focusing on optimizing the interaction between touch input and fingerprint recognition. The problem addressed is improving the efficiency and accuracy of fingerprint authentication while maintaining seamless user interaction, especially when touch inputs occur in proximity to fingerprint sensing regions. The electronic device includes a display with an integrated fingerprint sensor, where the fingerprint region is divided into distinct areas. A main region within this fingerprint region includes a touch area specifically designated for the first touch input. This touch area is optimized to ensure that the initial touch is accurately detected and processed, distinguishing it from subsequent touches or gestures. The main region may also include additional sub-regions that enhance fingerprint recognition by providing dedicated zones for different stages of the authentication process, such as initial contact, scanning, and verification. The device dynamically adjusts the sensitivity and response of these regions to prevent interference between touch and fingerprint sensing, ensuring reliable performance. This design allows users to interact with the device naturally while maintaining secure and efficient biometric authentication.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the fingerprint region comprises an additional region surrounding the touch area of the first touch.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with enhanced fingerprint sensing capabilities, particularly for touch-based authentication. The problem addressed is improving the accuracy and reliability of fingerprint recognition when a user's touch area is insufficient for capturing a complete fingerprint image. Traditional fingerprint sensors may fail to authenticate if the touch area is too small or improperly positioned, leading to authentication failures. The electronic device includes a display with an integrated fingerprint sensor capable of detecting touch inputs. The device identifies a first touch area on the display where a user's finger is initially placed. To enhance fingerprint recognition, the device expands the sensing region beyond the initial touch area to include an additional surrounding region. This expanded sensing area allows the device to capture a larger portion of the fingerprint, improving the likelihood of successful authentication even if the initial touch area is small or misaligned. The additional region is dynamically adjusted based on the position and size of the first touch, ensuring optimal coverage for fingerprint data acquisition. This approach enhances the robustness of fingerprint recognition in touch-based authentication systems.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to mask the fingerprint region during the first sensing time for the touch sensing operation.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to electronic devices with touch and fingerprint sensing capabilities, addressing the challenge of interference between these functions. The device includes a display with a fingerprint region and a touch sensor layer. During a first sensing time, the device performs touch sensing operations while masking the fingerprint region to prevent interference. This masking ensures that touch inputs are accurately detected without distortion from fingerprint sensing. The device may also perform fingerprint sensing during a second sensing time, where the touch sensor layer is configured to avoid interference with fingerprint detection. The touch sensor layer may include a plurality of touch electrodes, and the device may selectively activate or deactivate these electrodes to alternate between touch and fingerprint sensing modes. The invention improves the reliability of both touch and fingerprint sensing by preventing mutual interference during concurrent or sequential operations. The device may further include a processor to control the sensing operations and a display driver to manage the display's functionality. This solution is particularly useful in smartphones, tablets, and other touchscreen devices where both touch and fingerprint authentication are required.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensing control circuit is configured to stop transmitting a driving signal corresponding to the fingerprint region during the first sensing time.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with touch sensing capabilities, particularly focusing on improving fingerprint sensing accuracy during touch operations. The problem addressed is interference between touch sensing and fingerprint sensing, which can degrade performance when both functions are active simultaneously. The electronic device includes a touch sensing control circuit and a fingerprint sensing control circuit. The touch sensing control circuit is configured to detect touch inputs on a display or touch-sensitive surface. The fingerprint sensing control circuit is responsible for capturing fingerprint data from a designated fingerprint region. To prevent interference, the touch sensing control circuit temporarily stops transmitting a driving signal to the fingerprint region during a first sensing time, allowing the fingerprint sensing control circuit to operate without signal disruption. This ensures accurate fingerprint data acquisition while touch sensing continues elsewhere on the device. The invention improves the reliability of biometric authentication and touch input detection in electronic devices.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensing control circuit is configured to stop receiving a sensing signal corresponding to the fingerprint region during the first sensing time.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with touch sensing capabilities, particularly for fingerprint recognition. The problem addressed is optimizing power consumption and processing efficiency during fingerprint sensing operations. The device includes a touch sensing control circuit that manages the acquisition of sensing signals from a fingerprint region of a touch sensor. To improve efficiency, the control circuit is configured to temporarily halt the reception of sensing signals from the fingerprint region during a first sensing time. This pause allows the system to avoid unnecessary data processing or power usage when fingerprint sensing is not required or when other operations take priority. The device may also include a touch sensor with a fingerprint region and a non-fingerprint region, where the control circuit selectively processes signals from these areas based on operational needs. The invention aims to reduce computational load and energy consumption by dynamically controlling signal acquisition during fingerprint sensing operations.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensing control circuit is configured to stop processing a sensing signal corresponding to the fingerprint region during the first sensing.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with touch sensing capabilities, particularly those incorporating fingerprint sensing functionality. The problem addressed is optimizing power consumption and processing efficiency in devices that perform both touch sensing and fingerprint recognition. During fingerprint sensing, the device may also detect unintended touch inputs, leading to unnecessary processing and power drain. The invention improves this by selectively disabling touch signal processing in the fingerprint region during fingerprint scanning, reducing computational overhead and conserving energy. The touch sensing control circuit is configured to halt processing of sensing signals from the fingerprint region while fingerprint data is being acquired, ensuring that only relevant signals are processed. This selective deactivation prevents interference from accidental touches and enhances the accuracy of fingerprint recognition. The system may include a display with integrated touch and fingerprint sensors, where the touch sensing circuit dynamically adjusts its operation based on the current sensing mode. This approach is particularly useful in smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices where power efficiency and responsive touch interaction are critical. The invention ensures that touch functionality remains available outside the fingerprint region while fingerprint scanning is active, maintaining user experience without compromising performance.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a processor coupled to the touch sensing control circuit, wherein the processor is configured to discard an output signal corresponding to the fingerprint region provided by the touch sensing control circuit during the first recognition time.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with touch sensing capabilities, particularly those incorporating fingerprint recognition. The problem addressed is the interference between touch sensing and fingerprint recognition functions, which can degrade performance or cause errors when both are active simultaneously. The device includes a touch sensing control circuit that generates output signals from a touch sensing region, which includes a fingerprint recognition region. During a first recognition time, when fingerprint recognition is active, the device discards the output signal corresponding to the fingerprint region. This prevents touch sensing data from interfering with fingerprint recognition, ensuring accurate and reliable fingerprint authentication. The processor, coupled to the touch sensing control circuit, executes this discard function to isolate the fingerprint region's data during recognition. The invention improves the reliability of fingerprint recognition by eliminating touch sensing noise in the fingerprint region during authentication. This is particularly useful in devices where touch sensing and fingerprint recognition share the same sensor area, such as smartphones or tablets with in-display fingerprint scanners. The solution ensures that touch inputs do not corrupt fingerprint data, maintaining security and usability.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive the first location information from the touch sensing control circuit, determine the fingerprint region according to the first location information, control the fingerprint sensing control circuit to perform the fingerprint sensing operation on the fingerprint region during the first sensing time, and control the electronic device to perform the touch sensing operation on the sensing region except the fingerprint region during the first sensing time.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to electronic devices with integrated touch and fingerprint sensing capabilities. The problem addressed is the need to efficiently manage concurrent touch and fingerprint sensing operations on a shared display area without interference. The device includes a touch sensing control circuit that detects touch input and provides first location information indicating the position of a touch. A fingerprint sensing control circuit performs fingerprint scanning. A processor receives the first location information, identifies a fingerprint region based on the touch location, and coordinates the operations of both circuits. During a first sensing time, the processor activates the fingerprint sensing control circuit to scan the identified fingerprint region while simultaneously instructing the touch sensing control circuit to perform touch sensing on the remaining areas of the display, excluding the fingerprint region. This ensures that touch and fingerprint sensing can occur simultaneously without mutual interference, improving user experience and device responsiveness. The system dynamically adjusts sensing regions based on real-time touch input, optimizing performance for both functions. The processor's role is central, managing the timing and coordination between the two sensing operations to maintain accurate and uninterrupted functionality.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensing control circuit senses a plurality of first touches on the panel, and the touch sensing control circuit provides first location information corresponding to the plurality of first touches; one or more fingerprint regions are determined according to the first location information, and the one or more fingerprint regions encompass the plurality of touches; the fingerprint sensing control circuit performs the fingerprint sensing operation on the one or more fingerprint regions during the first sensing time, and the electronic device performs the touch sensing operation on the panel except the one or more fingerprint regions during the first sensing time.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to electronic devices with integrated touch and fingerprint sensing capabilities. The problem addressed is efficiently managing concurrent touch and fingerprint sensing operations to avoid interference while maintaining responsiveness. The device includes a panel capable of both touch and fingerprint sensing, along with separate control circuits for each function. When multiple touch inputs are detected across the panel, the touch sensing control circuit identifies their locations and defines one or more fingerprint regions that encompass these touch points. During a first sensing period, the fingerprint sensing control circuit activates fingerprint sensing only within these designated regions, while the touch sensing control circuit continues monitoring the remaining areas of the panel for additional touch inputs. This approach allows simultaneous touch and fingerprint sensing without mutual interference, improving user experience in applications requiring both input types, such as biometric authentication during touch interactions. The system dynamically adjusts sensing regions based on real-time touch data, optimizing resource usage and performance.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is further configured to update the fingerprint region along with a movement of a fingerprint.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with fingerprint recognition capabilities, specifically addressing the challenge of maintaining accurate fingerprint tracking as a user's finger moves across the device's sensor. Traditional fingerprint recognition systems often struggle with dynamic finger movements, leading to recognition failures or delays. This invention improves upon prior art by dynamically updating the fingerprint region in real-time as the fingerprint moves, ensuring continuous and reliable authentication. The electronic device includes a fingerprint sensor and processing circuitry. The sensor captures fingerprint data, while the processing circuitry analyzes the data to determine the fingerprint's position and movement. Based on this analysis, the device adjusts the fingerprint region—an area of the sensor designated for fingerprint recognition—to follow the moving fingerprint. This adjustment ensures that the sensor remains aligned with the fingerprint, even as the user's finger shifts position. The system may use algorithms to predict movement trajectories or employ adaptive tracking techniques to minimize latency and improve accuracy. By dynamically updating the fingerprint region, the device enhances the robustness of fingerprint recognition in scenarios where the finger is not stationary, such as during scrolling or swiping gestures. This improvement is particularly valuable for touch-sensitive devices where seamless interaction is critical. The invention may also incorporate additional features, such as multi-point tracking or environmental compensation, to further refine performance under varying conditions.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the touch sensing control circuit is configured to first senses a second touch later than a time when the first touch is sensed; the touch sensing control circuit provides second location information corresponding to the second touch; and the fingerprint region is updated according to the second location information, and the second fingerprint region encompasses the second touch; the fingerprint sensing control circuit is configured to perform the fingerprint sensing operation within the updated fingerprint region during a second sensing time, and the electronic device performs the touch sensing operation on the sensing region except the updated fingerprint region during the second sensing time.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to electronic devices with integrated touch and fingerprint sensing capabilities, addressing the challenge of efficiently managing concurrent touch and fingerprint sensing operations. The device includes a touch sensing control circuit and a fingerprint sensing control circuit, each responsible for detecting and processing touch and fingerprint inputs, respectively. The touch sensing control circuit first detects a first touch within a sensing region and provides location information corresponding to that touch. A fingerprint region is then defined based on this location, encompassing the first touch. During a first sensing time, the fingerprint sensing control circuit performs fingerprint sensing within this initial fingerprint region, while the touch sensing control circuit performs touch sensing on the remaining sensing region outside the fingerprint region. Subsequently, the touch sensing control circuit detects a second touch at a later time and provides updated location information. The fingerprint region is then adjusted to encompass this second touch. During a second sensing time, the fingerprint sensing control circuit performs fingerprint sensing within this updated fingerprint region, while the touch sensing control circuit continues touch sensing on the remaining sensing region outside the updated fingerprint region. This dynamic adjustment ensures efficient and accurate concurrent operation of both sensing functions, optimizing performance and user experience.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the fingerprint region is updated after the second touch is determined to be a fingerprint.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays that incorporate fingerprint recognition capabilities. The problem addressed is improving the accuracy and efficiency of fingerprint detection in devices where touch input and fingerprint scanning share the same region. The device includes a touch-sensitive display with a designated fingerprint region that can detect both touch inputs and fingerprint patterns. When a touch is detected in this region, the device first analyzes whether the touch is a fingerprint or a regular touch input. If the touch is identified as a fingerprint, the fingerprint region is updated to enhance subsequent fingerprint recognition. This update may involve adjusting sensitivity, calibration, or other parameters to improve the accuracy of future fingerprint scans. The device distinguishes between regular touch inputs and fingerprint touches to avoid unnecessary updates to the fingerprint region, conserving processing resources. The system ensures that only confirmed fingerprint touches trigger updates, preventing false positives from regular touch interactions. This approach optimizes the performance of fingerprint recognition in devices where touch and fingerprint functions are integrated.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein an area of the fingerprint region is fixed when a touch area of the first touch varies.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with touch-sensitive fingerprint sensors, addressing the challenge of maintaining consistent fingerprint recognition performance despite variations in touch area. The device includes a touch-sensitive display with a fingerprint region that remains fixed in size while the touch area of a user's finger changes. This ensures reliable fingerprint scanning regardless of how much of the finger is in contact with the display. The fingerprint region is part of a larger touch-sensitive area that detects touch input, and the device adjusts touch detection dynamically to accommodate different touch sizes while keeping the fingerprint scanning area stable. This prevents errors in fingerprint recognition that could occur if the scanning region varied with touch area. The invention improves usability by ensuring consistent fingerprint authentication even when users apply different amounts of pressure or touch with varying finger sizes. The fixed fingerprint region allows for precise and reliable biometric authentication in electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein an area of the fingerprint region varies according to a touch area of the first touch.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to electronic devices with touch-sensitive fingerprint sensors. The problem addressed is optimizing fingerprint recognition by dynamically adjusting the active sensing area based on the size of a user's touch. A fingerprint sensor is integrated into a touch-sensitive display, allowing simultaneous touch and fingerprint detection. The device includes a fingerprint region that can vary in size depending on the detected touch area. When a user touches the display, the device measures the touch area and adjusts the active fingerprint sensing region to match or correspond to the touch size. This ensures that the fingerprint sensor captures the most relevant portion of the user's fingerprint, improving recognition accuracy. The system may also include a controller to process touch and fingerprint data, and a display driver to manage the touch-sensitive display. The dynamic adjustment of the fingerprint region helps accommodate different finger sizes and touch pressures, enhancing usability and security. The invention aims to provide a more reliable and adaptable fingerprint recognition system in electronic devices with touchscreens.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. An electronic system capable of performing a touch sensing operation and a fingerprint sensing operation simultaneously, the electronic system comprising: a panel; and an electronic device, comprising: a touch sensing control circuit; and a fingerprint sensing control circuit; wherein the touch sensing control circuit senses a first touch on a sensing region of the panel, and the touch sensing control circuit provides a first location information corresponding to the first touch; wherein a fingerprint region is determined in the sensing region according to the first location information, and the fingerprint region encompasses a location of first the touch; wherein the fingerprint sensing control circuit performs the fingerprint sensing operation on the fingerprint region during a first sensing time, and the electronic device performs the touch sensing operation on the sensing region except the fingerprint region during the first sensing time.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to an electronic system that simultaneously performs touch sensing and fingerprint sensing operations. The system addresses the challenge of efficiently detecting both touch inputs and fingerprint data without interference, improving user experience in devices like smartphones or tablets. The system includes a panel and an electronic device with two control circuits: a touch sensing control circuit and a fingerprint sensing control circuit. The touch sensing control circuit detects a first touch on a sensing region of the panel and provides location information for that touch. Based on this location, a fingerprint region is defined within the sensing area, encompassing the touch location. During a first sensing time, the fingerprint sensing control circuit performs fingerprint sensing specifically within the fingerprint region. Concurrently, the electronic device continues touch sensing across the remaining sensing region, excluding the fingerprint region. This parallel operation ensures both functions operate without mutual interference, enhancing responsiveness and accuracy. The system optimizes resource usage by dynamically allocating sensing operations to specific regions, allowing seamless integration of touch and fingerprint detection in a single device. This approach is particularly useful for devices requiring both input methods, such as biometric authentication during touch interactions.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. A method, applied in an electronic device, the method comprising: sensing a touch on a sensing region of a panel, and providing a location information corresponding to the touch; forming a fingerprint region according to the location information, wherein the fingerprint region encompasses the touch; performing a fingerprint sensing operation on the fingerprint region during a sensing time; and performing a touch sensing operation on the sensing region except the fingerprint region during the sensing time.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to electronic devices with integrated touch and fingerprint sensing capabilities, addressing the challenge of efficiently managing both functions simultaneously. The method involves a panel that can detect touch inputs and capture fingerprint data. When a touch is sensed on a specific region of the panel, the system determines the touch location and defines a fingerprint region that encompasses the touch point. During a designated sensing time, the device performs two operations in parallel: a fingerprint sensing operation focused on the defined fingerprint region and a touch sensing operation on the remaining areas of the panel. This approach allows the device to process touch and fingerprint data concurrently without interference, improving responsiveness and accuracy. The fingerprint sensing operation captures detailed biometric data from the touched area, while the touch sensing operation continues to monitor other regions for additional touch inputs. This dual-function capability enhances user experience by enabling seamless authentication and touch interaction without requiring separate hardware or time delays. The invention is particularly useful in smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices where space and processing efficiency are critical.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising: masking the fingerprint region during the sensing time for the touch sensing operation.

Plain English Translation

A method for improving touch sensing accuracy in electronic devices with integrated fingerprint sensors involves masking the fingerprint region during touch sensing operations. The fingerprint sensor is used to detect touch inputs on a display or touch-sensitive surface, but the presence of the fingerprint sensor can interfere with touch sensing accuracy. To address this, the method includes temporarily masking or disabling the fingerprint region during the touch sensing phase. This prevents the fingerprint sensor from affecting touch signal readings, ensuring that touch inputs are detected accurately without interference. The masking can be achieved by electrically isolating the fingerprint region or by software-based deactivation during touch sensing. This approach enhances touch sensitivity and reduces false touch detections, particularly in devices where the fingerprint sensor and touch sensor share the same sensing area. The method is applicable to smartphones, tablets, and other touch-enabled devices with integrated fingerprint authentication.

Claim 21

Original Legal Text

21. An method capable of performing a touch sensing operation simultaneous with a fingerprint sensing operation, comprising: sensing a first touch on a sensing region of a panel; providing a first location information corresponding to the first touch; obtaining a fingerprint region encompassing a location of the first touch; performing a touch sensing operation on the sensing region except the fingerprint region during a first sensing time which a fingerprint sensing operation is performed by a fingerprint sensing control circuit on the fingerprint region simultaneously; wherein the fingerprint region is determined in the sensing region according to the first location information.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to simultaneous touch and fingerprint sensing on a panel, addressing the challenge of integrating both functionalities without interference. The method enables concurrent operation of touch sensing and fingerprint sensing by dynamically allocating sensing regions. When a first touch is detected on a sensing region of the panel, location information for the touch is provided. A fingerprint region is then defined around the touch location, encompassing the area where fingerprint sensing will occur. During a first sensing time, touch sensing is performed on the remaining sensing region (excluding the fingerprint region), while a fingerprint sensing control circuit simultaneously performs fingerprint sensing on the fingerprint region. This approach ensures that touch and fingerprint operations do not interfere with each other, allowing for seamless and accurate input detection. The fingerprint region is dynamically determined based on the touch location, optimizing the sensing process for efficiency and accuracy. The method is particularly useful in devices requiring both touch and fingerprint authentication, such as smartphones or tablets, where simultaneous operation enhances user experience and security.

Claim 22

Original Legal Text

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising: masking the fingerprint region during the sensing time for the touch sensing operation.

Plain English Translation

A method for improving touch sensing accuracy in electronic devices with integrated fingerprint sensors involves masking the fingerprint region during touch sensing operations. This technique addresses interference issues that arise when both touch and fingerprint sensing functions are active simultaneously. The fingerprint sensor, typically embedded in a display or touch-sensitive surface, can generate noise or signal distortion when performing touch detection, degrading fingerprint recognition performance. By temporarily masking or disabling the fingerprint region during touch sensing, the method ensures that touch inputs are accurately captured without interference from the fingerprint sensor. After touch sensing is complete, the fingerprint region is unmasked, allowing normal fingerprint scanning operations. This approach enhances the reliability of touch interfaces in devices where both functionalities share the same sensing area, such as smartphones, tablets, or other touch-enabled devices with biometric authentication. The method may also include adjusting sensing parameters or timing to optimize performance for both touch and fingerprint operations. The solution is particularly useful in devices where space constraints require overlapping sensing regions, ensuring seamless user interaction without compromising either function.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

September 15, 2020

Inventors

Cho-Hsuan Jhang
Chih-Peng Hsia
He-Jen Chen

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Method of Performing Touch Sensing and Fingerprint Sensing Simultaneously and Electronic Device and System Using the Same